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short-timer

American  
[shawrt-tahy-mer] / ˈʃɔrtˈtaɪ mər /

noun

Informal.

  1. a person, as a soldier, who has a short period of time left to serve on a tour of duty.

Etymology

Origin of short-timer

short time + -er 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The chief himself is a short-timer: the District native who joined the department as a cadet in 1989 announced that he’s leaving to take a job with the FBI.

From Washington Times • May 9, 2023

Pundits here in London speak about Charles as a short-timer in tones similar to those that people across the pond use when speculating over whether Biden will run again.

From Washington Post • Sep. 16, 2022

PlayStation was a hit, but Mr. Stolar was a short-timer at Sony: In 1996 he moved to Sega as president of Sega of America.

From New York Times • Jun. 29, 2022

Given the state of affairs, Lake could be considered a short-timer by many potential candidates.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 9, 2021

“But he didn’t live to be a short-timer by being stupid.”

From "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.